Every motorist in the South East and western Victoria in the post-war years probably would have had dealings with the Davis Brothers firm for their tyres and batteries.


From Mount Gambier through to Kingston and Horsham, the partnership had a peak workforce of 86 employees and over a dozen branches and associated enterprises.


It began in the Blue Lake city in 1946 after brothers Alec and Colin Davis were demobilised following war service with the RAAF.


The pair remained in partnership for 36 years until they sold their diverse business interests in 1982 to Dunlop and retired.


Alec and Colin enjoyed a happy retirement with travel, sport and hobbies and are both now deceased.


An insight into the Davis Brothers business was provided by Millicent retailer Bill Davis, the son of Alec.


He delivered a 45-minute illustrated address to a recent meeting of the Millicent-based South East Family History Group.


He brought with him a range of historic photographs dating back more than 100 years.


The Davis Brothers firm evolved from the earlier Mount Gambier business known as May and Davis.


It was operated by Bill’s paternal grandfather Stan Davis and he went into partnership with Stan May in 1920.


The base was at the rear of the Mount Gambier Hotel on Penola Road and nowadays it is the drive-in bottle department.


Stan Davis was a high-profile identity and served five terms as Mount Gambier Mayor.


The May and Davis partnership was the dealer for American company General Motors and sold Chevrolet, Vauxhall and Oldsmobile vehicles. It ran a flying school at Mount Gambier Airport


After several years in uniform, Alec and Colin established their business in succession to May and Davis.


Before the war, Stan Davis had purchased a property in Commercial Street East and roughly opposite the current-day Aldi Supermarket.


Davis Brothers began on May 20, 1946 with capital of 150 pounds ($300) and with wartime rationing of goods still in force.


The brothers quickly established a reputation for excellent customer service and it remained throughout the following 36 years.


“It was unique to have a business which dealt with both batteries and tyres,” Bill said.


“The Davis brothers were prepared to call on customers at their businesses and farms.


“Back in those days, everyone had re-tread tyres. They were half the price of new tyres.”


A major part of the business was selling and servicing the low-volt batteries which powered farms in the region before the roll-out of mains power across regional South Australia.


The electric current was generated with the assistance of sulphuric acid and Bill recalled it being shipped to the Mount Gambier in large 100 litre jars in wooden crates.


The first of the 10 outlying branches of Davis Brothers opened in Casterton in 1953 and the last at Horsham in 1971.


The others were Millicent in 1957, Penola and Coleraine in 1960, Kingston (1963), Heywood (1964), Portland (1967) and Kalangadoo and MacArthur in 1969.


Davis Brothers also diversified into flooring, belting, pulleys and industrial rubber and plastics and erected a purpose-built retreads factory.


To mark 21 years in business, Davis Brothers organised a cavalcade of 21 vehicles which called at most of the branches.


“I was a schoolboy at the time and I am in the photograph of the event,” Bill said.


“There were actually 22 vehicles in case one broke down.”


Davis Brothers established a Rubber and Plastics store in Millicent in 1972 and later added a toy store.


Bill and his wife Helen have owned and managed the Toy Kingdom store for the past 36 years and thus maintain the direct family association with Davis Brothers.